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Dungeons and Diablo

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
frerezar
Aug 13, 2009 11:30:20 Ok this might be a long post so I apologyze for it in advance.

A friend of mine is running a little experiment which consists on using the Diablo rpg for a game, however we little players are only allowed to use D&D material. Personally I´ve never player diablo and had no idea of qhat i was getting into, until we got TPK two weeks ago by 4 monstruosities with over 60hp each and 3 29 29 24 attackas that dealt 1d10 plus 5 each (as it was clearly stated in the manual). Oh and i forgot to say that we were 4 lvl 3 characters (and this was written as a proper CR for us).

That being said I realyzed that this was going to be a very very hard game so we as a group decided to step up or game build wise. And so we made new characters(at lvl 4 this time) as follows.

1. Dragonblood Sorcerer 4 (RoD variant with entangling breath and dragon´s breath)
It´s going for mainly crowd control and debuffing focusing on breath, will most likely dip into rainbow servant sacred exorcist and dragonheart mage. (wanna point out that DM didn´t allow the dragonfire adept class)

2. Fighter 2 warblade 2 (AoP spike chain wielding with improved trip and knock down as DM approved)
Probably will focus the left of his career on warblade

3. Dragonblood bard 4 (dragonfire inspiration and inspirational boost have worked well so far, but DM is not allowing words of creation)
No idea what to do with character.

4. Paladin of Tiranny 4 (combat and debuffer, can heal himself and kills critters)
Plans on going hexblade to grab dark companion and then attemps to take ur priest and become primary divine caster.

this worked well the next time we fought those things and seems like a solid party, however after checking the future critters we´ll be facing i don´t feel that confident
I want some advice on how to optimize this characters (while keeping their flavor) to best deal with a game like Diablo, or if maybe it shouldn´t be tried alltogether.

so basically what I´m asking is Please Char Op, PIMP MY BUILDS.

PS no psionics or warlocks are allowed, nor incarnum. The DM is kinda skittish so anything too cheesy or broken will not be allowed.
#2
ashyl
Aug 13, 2009 19:25:43
Ok this might be a long post so I apologyze for it in advance.

A friend of mine is running a little experiment which consists on using the Diablo rpg for a game, however we little players are only allowed to use D&D material. Personally I´ve never player diablo and had no idea of qhat i was getting into, until we got TPK two weeks ago by 4 monstruosities with over 60hp each and 3 29 29 24 attackas that dealt 1d10 plus 5 each (as it was clearly stated in the manual). Oh and i forgot to say that we were 4 lvl 3 characters (and this was written as a proper CR for us).

That being said I realyzed that this was going to be a very very hard game so we as a group decided to step up or game build wise. And so we made new characters(at lvl 4 this time) as follows.

1. Dragonblood Sorcerer 4 (RoD variant with entangling breath and dragon´s breath)
It´s going for mainly crowd control and debuffing focusing on breath, will most likely dip into rainbow servant sacred exorcist and dragonheart mage. (wanna point out that DM didn´t allow the dragonfire adept class)

2. Fighter 2 warblade 2 (AoP spike chain wielding with improved trip and knock down as DM approved)
Probably will focus the left of his career on warblade

3. Dragonblood bard 4 (dragonfire inspiration and inspirational boost have worked well so far, but DM is not allowing words of creation)
No idea what to do with character.

4. Paladin of Tiranny 4 (combat and debuffer, can heal himself and kills critters)
Plans on going hexblade to grab dark companion and then attemps to take ur priest and become primary divine caster.

this worked well the next time we fought those things and seems like a solid party, however after checking the future critters we´ll be facing i don´t feel that confident
I want some advice on how to optimize this characters (while keeping their flavor) to best deal with a game like Diablo, or if maybe it shouldn´t be tried alltogether.

so basically what I´m asking is Please Char Op, PIMP MY BUILDS.

PS no psionics or warlocks are allowed, nor incarnum. The DM is kinda skittish so anything too cheesy or broken will not be allowed.

Thinking that Psionics are OP is sooooo banal.

Oh and Warlocks, Dragonfire Adepts and Incarnum are average at best :>
#3
dandu
Aug 13, 2009 19:34:30 You need a Monk/Rogue/Trapsmith/Combat Trapsmith, a Cleric/Stormlord, a Druid, a Dread Necromancer, and a Barbarian/Fighter/Frenzied Berserker.
#4
wildfire393
Aug 13, 2009 20:03:12 Yeah, if you want to go Diablo classes, I'd recommend:

Dread Necro
Frenzied Berserker
A Blaster Sorc
Female Ranger
Paladin
Unarmed Assassin with some trapstuff (maybe swordsage/shadow sun ninja/assassin/combat trapsmith)
Druid
#5
kell_kheraptis
Aug 14, 2009 0:22:02
Yeah, if you want to go Diablo classes, I'd recommend:

Dread Necro
Frenzied Berserker
A Blaster Sorc
Female Ranger
Paladin
Unarmed Assassin with some trapstuff (maybe swordsage/shadow sun ninja/assassin/combat trapsmith)
Druid

Further refining some of those :

Dread Necro with the full LM makeover (Mother Cyst absolutely manditory!)

Revenant Blade FB (look up the RB handbook, it's wicked)

The Mailman sorc build, also wicked

Swift Hunter Ranger

Cleric built as a Paladin (Fist of Raziel, etc, to reach optimal attack power) : Paladins had kickass auras in D2, and in particular this patch they are by far the most common character around other than maybe Infinity Light Sorcs. Clerics do better than Paladins at emulating D2 paladins.

Shifter Druid, since IIRC they can take Rapid Strike? Try and find a spellcasting full BAB class too for 4 levels, or a way to get Divine Power (DP=part of "shapeshifting"). Shapeshift Druids are by far my fav D2 characters, and in fact my wolfies have taken out some of the most IMBA builds out there (ask the smiters why rabies is bad...and then why they whine when the favor of TG is returned to them with a polearm that blocks the whole town entrance...muahahaha!).

Assassins, well, with no ToB you're kinda stuck with Monk for the unarmed part, unless Battle Dancer is allowed from Dragon Compendium. If it is, that's a near perfect fit if you can add some way of getting the traps. Really, an artificer could do it perfectly I think with IUS/SUS/INA, and a little thought on the flavor of his stuff (i.e. infusions/gadgets = "traps").

Of all of those, I'd probably be the crazy werewolf. I'd also reflavor the spell "Bite of the Weretiger" to "Bite of the Werewolf Lord" and call it a day. Same abilities, looks like a puppy, but adds the Weretiger stats. And for the record : that Revenant Blade will most likely outstrip even the werewolf in terms of raw damage. Like expect 600+ per round easily.
#6
frerezar
Aug 14, 2009 9:24:36 mmmm ironically enought the party that got killed had a barbarian going for FB and a dread necro with tomb tainted soul. Maybe the problem was that they didn´t have time to mature.

I like the swift hunter idea (mostly demons are the enemy) and i know there is a built around bot favored enemy evil somewhere around here (anyone know where?).

Revenant blade sadly enought is out due to my friend´s distaste for eberron material.

Another thing i forgot to mention is that only humans are allowed as PC (i actually had to convi9nce him to let me be a little person to replicate the physical stats of a strongheart halfling without the bonus to fear)

So any advice of what to do with the characters ppl have already created as i mentioned?

PS The reazon he says he dislikes warlocks and the like is that they never run out of stuff. Ironically enought out normal modus operandi has become to go to town after every encounter and get healed and given mana (recover spells) whih is basically the same.
#7
meatzombie
Aug 14, 2009 17:20:14 Make sure the frenzied berserker takes whirlwind attack
Or take Monkey grip and use dual large longswords (will do 2d6 each, the same as a GS)
Or both.
#8
aethernox
Aug 15, 2009 1:35:14
Make sure the frenzied berserker takes whirlwind attack
Or take Monkey grip and use dual large longswords (will do 2d6 each, the same as a GS)
Or both.

I know it's thematically appropriate, but every fiber of my being is screaming No, no, oh tyrael no! Just using a Lion Totem barbarian with Whirling frenzy is close enough to the whirlwind attack fluff, and far more effective.

Speaking of thematics, :
Barb : FB.

Necro : Tomb-Tainted DN, with lots of LM.

Paladin : Charging Smite Paladin, or CoDzilla. Hammerdins are hard to replicate.

Sorc : Really? Guess.

Sin : Unarmed Swordsage. No ToB? That's... hard. Seconding Artificer, perhaps with a battlefist. For your foot. Or something. Or katars.

Druid : Druidzilla, wildshape. If you can convince your DM, do some awesome refluffing of D2's Rabies by sneaking in Venomfire.

Zon : Depending on the amazon, Swift Hunter + Greater Manyshot or a really ineffective Master Thrower. Wait, wait, I take that back. Female bard/master thrower with Draconic Heritage (Anything with lightning breath) and Dragonfire Inspiration .

For the OP: Things seem passable, though the paladin worries me a bit. You really need something to handle traps, though, if your DM will use them.
#9
frerezar
Aug 15, 2009 14:53:10 luckily enought the game is more hack and slash based that trap based, he hasn't used them so far and it seems unlikely he will.

The swift hunter is a definite yes.

we do have a dragonblood bard, but what is lightning breath?
#10
aethernox
Aug 15, 2009 15:54:03 Dragonfire Inspiration's elemental damage changes depending on the source of your draconic blood; Draconic Heritage lets you choose which Dragon you're connected to. Since, for the most part, Jav-based zons used lots of lightning-based attacks, it would be most thematically appropriate to choose a dragon heritage that would grant lightning bonus damage. Of course, it's not necessary at all. Just something to consider.
#11
meatzombie
Aug 15, 2009 19:20:57 A jav based zon could be a....oh what is that class that turns javalins into lightning....stormlord?

That would be cool.

Oh, also, make sure the barb gets jumping charge or whatever that thing is that allows you to jump and charge for extra damage.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 frerezar Aug 13, 2009 11:30:20	Ok this might be a long post so I apologyze for it in advance. A friend of mine is running a little experiment which consists on using the Diablo rpg for a game, however we little players are only allowed to use D&D material. Personally I´ve never player diablo and had no idea of qhat i was getting into, until we got TPK two weeks ago by 4 monstruosities with over 60hp each and 3 29 29 24 attackas that dealt 1d10 plus 5 each (as it was clearly stated in the manual). Oh and i forgot to say that we were 4 lvl 3 characters (and this was written as a proper CR for us). That being said I realyzed that this was going to be a very very hard game so we as a group decided to step up or game build wise. And so we made new characters(at lvl 4 this time) as follows. 1. Dragonblood Sorcerer 4 (RoD variant with entangling breath and dragon´s breath) It´s going for mainly crowd control and debuffing focusing on breath, will most likely dip into rainbow servant sacred exorcist and dragonheart mage. (wanna point out that DM didn´t allow the dragonfire adept class) 2. Fighter 2 warblade 2 (AoP spike chain wielding with improved trip and knock down as DM approved) Probably will focus the left of his career on warblade 3. Dragonblood bard 4 (dragonfire inspiration and inspirational boost have worked well so far, but DM is not allowing words of creation) No idea what to do with character. 4. Paladin of Tiranny 4 (combat and debuffer, can heal himself and kills critters) Plans on going hexblade to grab dark companion and then attemps to take ur priest and become primary divine caster. this worked well the next time we fought those things and seems like a solid party, however after checking the future critters we´ll be facing i don´t feel that confident I want some advice on how to optimize this characters (while keeping their flavor) to best deal with a game like Diablo, or if maybe it shouldn´t be tried alltogether. so basically what I´m asking is Please Char Op, PIMP MY BUILDS. PS no psionics or warlocks are allowed, nor incarnum. The DM is kinda skittish so anything too cheesy or broken will not be allowed.
#2 ashyl Aug 13, 2009 19:25:43	Ok this might be a long post so I apologyze for it in advance. A friend of mine is running a little experiment which consists on using the Diablo rpg for a game, however we little players are only allowed to use D&D material. Personally I´ve never player diablo and had no idea of qhat i was getting into, until we got TPK two weeks ago by 4 monstruosities with over 60hp each and 3 29 29 24 attackas that dealt 1d10 plus 5 each (as it was clearly stated in the manual). Oh and i forgot to say that we were 4 lvl 3 characters (and this was written as a proper CR for us). That being said I realyzed that this was going to be a very very hard game so we as a group decided to step up or game build wise. And so we made new characters(at lvl 4 this time) as follows. 1. Dragonblood Sorcerer 4 (RoD variant with entangling breath and dragon´s breath) It´s going for mainly crowd control and debuffing focusing on breath, will most likely dip into rainbow servant sacred exorcist and dragonheart mage. (wanna point out that DM didn´t allow the dragonfire adept class) 2. Fighter 2 warblade 2 (AoP spike chain wielding with improved trip and knock down as DM approved) Probably will focus the left of his career on warblade 3. Dragonblood bard 4 (dragonfire inspiration and inspirational boost have worked well so far, but DM is not allowing words of creation) No idea what to do with character. 4. Paladin of Tiranny 4 (combat and debuffer, can heal himself and kills critters) Plans on going hexblade to grab dark companion and then attemps to take ur priest and become primary divine caster. this worked well the next time we fought those things and seems like a solid party, however after checking the future critters we´ll be facing i don´t feel that confident I want some advice on how to optimize this characters (while keeping their flavor) to best deal with a game like Diablo, or if maybe it shouldn´t be tried alltogether. so basically what I´m asking is Please Char Op, PIMP MY BUILDS. PS no psionics or warlocks are allowed, nor incarnum. The DM is kinda skittish so anything too cheesy or broken will not be allowed. Thinking that Psionics are OP is sooooo banal. Oh and Warlocks, Dragonfire Adepts and Incarnum are average at best :>
#3 dandu Aug 13, 2009 19:34:30	You need a Monk/Rogue/Trapsmith/Combat Trapsmith, a Cleric/Stormlord, a Druid, a Dread Necromancer, and a Barbarian/Fighter/Frenzied Berserker.
#4 wildfire393 Aug 13, 2009 20:03:12	Yeah, if you want to go Diablo classes, I'd recommend: Dread Necro Frenzied Berserker A Blaster Sorc Female Ranger Paladin Unarmed Assassin with some trapstuff (maybe swordsage/shadow sun ninja/assassin/combat trapsmith) Druid
#5 kell_kheraptis Aug 14, 2009 0:22:02	Yeah, if you want to go Diablo classes, I'd recommend: Dread Necro Frenzied Berserker A Blaster Sorc Female Ranger Paladin Unarmed Assassin with some trapstuff (maybe swordsage/shadow sun ninja/assassin/combat trapsmith) Druid Further refining some of those : Dread Necro with the full LM makeover (Mother Cyst absolutely manditory!) Revenant Blade FB (look up the RB handbook, it's wicked) The Mailman sorc build, also wicked Swift Hunter Ranger Cleric built as a Paladin (Fist of Raziel, etc, to reach optimal attack power) : Paladins had kickass auras in D2, and in particular this patch they are by far the most common character around other than maybe Infinity Light Sorcs. Clerics do better than Paladins at emulating D2 paladins. Shifter Druid, since IIRC they can take Rapid Strike? Try and find a spellcasting full BAB class too for 4 levels, or a way to get Divine Power (DP=part of "shapeshifting"). Shapeshift Druids are by far my fav D2 characters, and in fact my wolfies have taken out some of the most IMBA builds out there (ask the smiters why rabies is bad...and then why they whine when the favor of TG is returned to them with a polearm that blocks the whole town entrance...muahahaha!). Assassins, well, with no ToB you're kinda stuck with Monk for the unarmed part, unless Battle Dancer is allowed from Dragon Compendium. If it is, that's a near perfect fit if you can add some way of getting the traps. Really, an artificer could do it perfectly I think with IUS/SUS/INA, and a little thought on the flavor of his stuff (i.e. infusions/gadgets = "traps"). Of all of those, I'd probably be the crazy werewolf. I'd also reflavor the spell "Bite of the Weretiger" to "Bite of the Werewolf Lord" and call it a day. Same abilities, looks like a puppy, but adds the Weretiger stats. And for the record : that Revenant Blade will most likely outstrip even the werewolf in terms of raw damage. Like expect 600+ per round easily.
#6 frerezar Aug 14, 2009 9:24:36	mmmm ironically enought the party that got killed had a barbarian going for FB and a dread necro with tomb tainted soul. Maybe the problem was that they didn´t have time to mature. I like the swift hunter idea (mostly demons are the enemy) and i know there is a built around bot favored enemy evil somewhere around here (anyone know where?). Revenant blade sadly enought is out due to my friend´s distaste for eberron material. Another thing i forgot to mention is that only humans are allowed as PC (i actually had to convi9nce him to let me be a little person to replicate the physical stats of a strongheart halfling without the bonus to fear) So any advice of what to do with the characters ppl have already created as i mentioned? PS The reazon he says he dislikes warlocks and the like is that they never run out of stuff. Ironically enought out normal modus operandi has become to go to town after every encounter and get healed and given mana (recover spells) whih is basically the same.
#7 meatzombie Aug 14, 2009 17:20:14	Make sure the frenzied berserker takes whirlwind attack Or take Monkey grip and use dual large longswords (will do 2d6 each, the same as a GS) Or both.
#8 aethernox Aug 15, 2009 1:35:14	Make sure the frenzied berserker takes whirlwind attack Or take Monkey grip and use dual large longswords (will do 2d6 each, the same as a GS) Or both. I know it's thematically appropriate, but every fiber of my being is screaming No, no, oh tyrael no! Just using a Lion Totem barbarian with Whirling frenzy is close enough to the whirlwind attack fluff, and far more effective. Speaking of thematics, : Barb : FB. Necro : Tomb-Tainted DN, with lots of LM. Paladin : Charging Smite Paladin, or CoDzilla. Hammerdins are hard to replicate. Sorc : Really? Guess. Sin : Unarmed Swordsage. No ToB? That's... hard. Seconding Artificer, perhaps with a battlefist. For your foot. Or something. Or katars. Druid : Druidzilla, wildshape. If you can convince your DM, do some awesome refluffing of D2's Rabies by sneaking in Venomfire. Zon : Depending on the amazon, Swift Hunter + Greater Manyshot or a really ineffective Master Thrower. Wait, wait, I take that back. Female bard/master thrower with Draconic Heritage (Anything with lightning breath) and Dragonfire Inspiration . For the OP: Things seem passable, though the paladin worries me a bit. You really need something to handle traps, though, if your DM will use them.
#9 frerezar Aug 15, 2009 14:53:10	luckily enought the game is more hack and slash based that trap based, he hasn't used them so far and it seems unlikely he will. The swift hunter is a definite yes. we do have a dragonblood bard, but what is lightning breath?
#10 aethernox Aug 15, 2009 15:54:03	Dragonfire Inspiration's elemental damage changes depending on the source of your draconic blood; Draconic Heritage lets you choose which Dragon you're connected to. Since, for the most part, Jav-based zons used lots of lightning-based attacks, it would be most thematically appropriate to choose a dragon heritage that would grant lightning bonus damage. Of course, it's not necessary at all. Just something to consider.
#11 meatzombie Aug 15, 2009 19:20:57	A jav based zon could be a....oh what is that class that turns javalins into lightning....stormlord? That would be cool. Oh, also, make sure the barb gets jumping charge or whatever that thing is that allows you to jump and charge for extra damage.